La vie en rose: where to stay, dine and shop in Paris, according to Manila’s style mavens

Charmaine Lagman

What I love most about Paris is its effortless allure. It’s the only place where I feel completely content doing nothing—just sitting at a café, watching the world pass by, sipping champagne and letting the city’s energy wrap around me.

Best Stay: I love Plaza Athénée, where the Eiffel Tower feels just a breath away from your window. The service is the epitome of luxury, and just steps from the entrance are all my favourites, from world-class shopping to iconic restaurants.

Best Neighbourhood: If I were to live in Paris, it would have to be Saint-Germain—charming, intellectual and quietly sophisticated, with its art galleries, cafés and that timeless Left Bank spirit. But for a short stay with girlfriends, Avenue Montaigne is my go-to for its unbeatable convenience, chic energy and proximity to the best in fashion, dining and everything Parisian.

Best Bite: I can be a bit extreme with my choices; I go from one end of the spectrum to the other. One of my absolute favourites is L’Avant Comptoir, a lively, no-frills French tapas bar where people come and go, often standing shoulder to shoulder. It makes me feel like a true local. On the other end, for a Michelin-starred experience, it’s Jean Imbert at Plaza Athénée. The standout dish? His signature langoustine with citrus beurre blanc—it’s delicate, layered and unforgettable.

Best Finds: My favourite kind of shopping in Paris has to be the flea markets. I look forward to weekends spent wandering through stalls filled with fresh produce, irresistible local street food and, most of all, the thrill of treasure hunting at Clignancourt. I could spend an entire day here, lost in its maze of vintage gems and antique finds, from ornate gilded mirrors to forgotten curiosities.

I’ll Never Forget… My best memory is undoubtedly our shared dining moments. It was during these meals that we opened up, shared stories, laughed over wine and discovered new flavours together. Each table became a stage for connection, whether at a small bistro tucked or a buzzing brasserie in the heart of the city. The food was incredible, but it was the friendship that made every bite even richer.

Tina Cuevas

Paris is a great city due to its rich history, iconic landmarks, beautiful architecture, vibrant culture and renowned cuisine. It is a city exuding art, fashion and, not to mention, romance.

Best Stay: On this trip, I stayed at Cour de Vosges. Place des Vosges is a classically designed plaza that is said to be the most beautiful square in Paris. I enjoyed browsing the eclectic stores and trying the restaurants in the area.

Best Neighbourhood: It would still be Place des Vosges for its very relaxed and laid-back atmosphere.

Best Bite: I love Ralph’s in the Saint-Germain district for their food (the salad and steak were superb!) and the absolutely beautiful interiors. Aside from enjoying a meal at the gorgeous patio of Ralph’s, L’Avenue is another favourite and a must on my list. Their aperols are great!

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Best Finds: Avenue Montaigne is a shopper’s haven, but aside from the big brands, I also get excited over small local boutiques where I find unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.

I’ll Never Forget… Paris is magical, it truly is. The City of Light is always full of life and it radiates with so much beauty and romance. Our party of seven couldn’t have chosen a better destination to enjoy, explore and simply celebrate friendship and life together.

Marivic Vazquez

This group is really fun, exciting and all so chic in their own individual ways. What I love about Paris is the sights, museums and, most of all, the expression of individuality and uniqueness of the people, young and old. 

Best Stay: I usually like staying at Le Meurice as it’s near the Louvre and within walking distance to all the best shops. Although I did enjoy staying at Hotel Opéra Richepanse this last time. It’s very accessible to the restaurants and shopping.

Best Neighbourhood: My favourite neighbourhood for slumming is Le Marais. I also enjoy going to the flea markets and bistros where the good chefs of Paris hang out to relax and eat. On the more posh side is the 7th arrondissement, where you see the local social Parisians mingle around.

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Best Bite: My best dining experience this time was at a restaurant at the Ritz where we had dinner with my cousins, Lisa and Jun [Bayot], but the ones I enjoyed the most were the hole-in-the-wall restaurant we went to for Vietnamese pho, and the one Junie [Rodriguez] recommended, La Jacobine, where I wiped my plate of duck confit couscous totally clean with the bread.

Best Finds: For shopping, my favourite is really Chanel and, would you believe, Zara!

I’ll Never Forget… My best memories on this trip were really being with this group and the camaraderie we had. Can you imagine us all being strong alpha females, and yet we all enjoyed each other’s company? No spoiled diva in the whole group. Love them all!

Fe Rodriguez

It is often said that girl’s trips are the best. I must say this is so true!

Best Bite: We all had our favourite restaurants, cafés, shops and bars. First was lunch in the beautiful courtyard of Ralph Lauren. We also had Vietnamese noodles in a hole-in-the-wall, Ha Noi 1988, with a 30-minute wait! Worth it though. Very memorable was a delectable dinner at the elegant Le Relais at Plaza Athénée. A riotous evening was dinner and drinks at Gigi, where there was a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower.

Best Finds: Shopping, of course, was not to be missed. Dries Van Noten is a go-to in Paris. We also got some very nice things in Fortuny. For antiques and homeware, Rue de l’Université is a long stretch of beautiful stores in Saint-Germain where Galerie Stéphane Olivier, a favourite shop, is located.

I’ll Never Forget… You would think we would be so tired after the five days and sleep through the trip back home. But guess what? The fun, laughter, eating and drinking continued at the Emirates sky bar! What a trip!

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